B.S.B.A.MarketingMinorMajor

The Sales and Marketing Program prepares students for careers helping companies or clients strategically persuade people to buy specific products or services, or to support causes or campaigns. They may research who will buy a product or service and at what price, or they may develop strategic communication and advertising plans. WCU’s Sales and Marketing Program is the only program in North Carolina to offer a specialization in professional selling and sales management. The degree program is part of WCU’s College of Business, which is committed to preparing “Business Ready” graduates and was included in Princeton Review’s “296 Best” in 2015.

What You'll Learn

The program emphasizes active academic learning enhanced by practical experience with businesses and economic and community development agencies. In addition to foundational business courses in accounting, business law and ethics, economics, information systems, management and statistics, coursework covers marketing and sales techniques, strategies, theories and principles. Students examine how businesses create value, participate in simulated selling situations and explore how marketers use information to make good decisions. They apply marketing analysis and skills to real-world cases. Students also have opportunities to participate in internships or co-ops with businesses and develop leadership skills through membership in on-campus clubs. Other opportunities include conducting research with faculty and interacting with successful business professionals at events such as the college’s “Insights and Reflections” speaker series.

Where You'll Go

Sales and Marketing Program graduates may go on to work in positions such as market research analysts, marketing managers overseeing communications or advertising campaigns, or as sales representatives or sales managers. Marketers and salespeople are hired by businesses of all sizes, department stores, retail establishments, tourism and hospitality businesses, nonprofit organizations and service industries such as banks, financial institutions and healthcare organizations. Job responsibilities could include Internet and social media marketing, global marketing, proposing and implementing an advertising campaign, or managing sales teams. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth for market research analysts inparticular to grow 32 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than average for all occupations.